Around the World's Markets: London

The London market moved sideways yesterday as institutions sat it out ahead of today's interest-rate decision. The FTSE 100 ended just 0.4 points higher at 6,061.3 in thin volumes. The small cap followed, closing 2.3 lower at 2,276.3. Bid rumours helped the FTSE 250 to do better, closing 18.9 up at 5,277.3, its highest this year.

Rentokil Initial was the biggest blue-chip faller, marked down as it failed to meet its 20 per cent earnings growth target.

Market report, page 19